Bayern’s record run ended by shock Leverkusen loss

AFP, BERLIN

Tue, Oct 30, 2012 - Page 18

Bayer 04 Leverkusen earned a shock 2-1 win at Bayern Munich on Sunday to claim their first victory at the Bavarians for 23 years as the Bundesliga leaders’ record winning streak came to an abrupt end.

Having set a German league record last weekend with their eighth straight win since the start of the season, Bayern were left stunned as defender Jerome Boateng scored a late own-goal to give Leverkusen the three points.

“The defeat will not knock us of course, but we must learn the lessons from it,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said. “We have to maintain the same pace over the 90 minutes which we showed in the second half.”

The visitors took the lead when Leverkusen captain Simon Rolfes found Andre Schuerrle on the wing, who threaded his pass through the Munich defense for striker Stefan Kiessling to tap in on 42 minutes.

Bayern leveled on 77 minutes thanks to a header from striker Mario Mandzukic, but Leverkusen were not be denied their first win in Munich since October 1989.

Boateng managed to get his head in the way as Leverkusen’s Sidney Sam headed home, but the ball only flew into the top left-hand corner and past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on 86 minutes.

There was also drama in Hannover as Borussia Moenchengladbach came from 2-0 down to score three goals in nine minutes and enjoy a 3-2 win over Hannover 96.

Earlier, VfB Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisevic headed a late winner to seal his team’s 2-1 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Former Germany international midfielder Christian Gentner played a big part in Stuttgart’s win after he scored the opener in the sixth minute, then provided the final cross for Ibisevic’s 84th-minute header.

Frankfurt equalized when Alexander Meier curled the ball inside the far post on 67 minutes, before Ibisevic hit his fifth goal of the season.